Jackson's doctor to stand trial in March

Conrad Murray, the personal doctor of deceased pop star Michael Jackson, pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter on Tuesday as the date was set for his trial for allegedly killing the pop icon in June 2009, The Gazette reported.

Murray is to stand trial on March 28 on charges he gave Jackson an overdose of a powerful sedative, a judge ruled after an arraignment hearing at the Los Angeles Superior Court.

"Your honour, I am an innocent man. I therefore plead not guilty," he told Michael E Pastor, shortly after the trial date was set following six days of preliminary hearings earlier this month.

His lawyer, Ed Chernoff, added: "Dr. Murray is looking forward to the opportunity to finally tell his side of the story ... Dr. Murray has absolute faith in the jury system."

Murray claims he was administering an insomnia treatment when the singer died.

He could face up to four years in jail and permanently lose his doctor's license if he is convicted.

The doctor had his license to practice medicine in California suspended after the pre-trial hearings, which included evidence that Murray tried to cover up giving Jackson an overdose of the drug propofol.

A Jackson fans' group leader welcomed the fact that Murray will stand trial, but said it should be for murder.

"We're pleased that the judge has ordered him to stand trial ... but we believe that there is enough evidence that Conrad Murray should be charged with murder," said Geraldine Hughes of fan group The Jackson Truth.

"We're outraged that the charge is still involuntary manslaughter."

Prosecutors allege that Murray, 57, "abandoned his patient" after administering the propofol some time between 10:40 am and 11 am to help Jackson sleep, and then tried to cover it up after the singer's death.

Murray acknowledged that he had used propofol to treat Jackson's chronic insomnia, but insisted that on the day of the 50-year-old singer's death he administered only a small amount of the drug that should not have been fatal.

His defense team has suggested that Jackson could have effectively killed himself on June 25, 2009, by administering an extra dose of propofol while Murray was out of the room.